It is the policy of Loyola University Chicago that all filming or photography on any of Loyola’s campuses be approved in advance. Written permission must be granted by Loyola’s University Marketing and Communication office before any filming or photography can take place. All requests must be submitted a minimum of 60 days in advance.

The University will grant requests in accordance with the guidelines outlined below. Loyola reserves the right to refuse or revoke requests for filming or photography on its property for any reason, including but not limited to:

• Inappropriate use of the name, logo, or branding of Loyola University Chicago
• Violations of student, faculty, or staff privacy
• Any disruption of University business, classes, academic research, or student activities
• Disruption of traffic, parking, or pedestrian walkways
• Any safety hazards or potential damage to University property

Commercial filming/photography

Loyola will consider requests for commercial filming or photography to be used in films, television, advertising, or other commercial contexts. Any project must be approved in advance and must be in alignment with the University's mission and values as a Jesuit, Catholic institution. All commercial requests must be submitted in writing to University Marketing and Communication for approval at least 60 days in advance of desired shooting date(s). 

If approved, all parties must sign and agree to Loyola's Film Location Agreement and submit all required paperwork at least 14 days in advance of shooting. 

Professional videographers and photographers who wish to be granted permission to shoot on Loyola’s campus must:

• Ensure that their work and conduct is consistent with the values of Loyola University Chicago’s Jesuit, Catholic mission and all University policies
• Submit a completed loyola-location-agreement.pdf 14 days in advance and pay the agreed upon fee 24 hours before shooting begins
• Carry credentials with them at all times when on campus and maintain appropriate liability insurance
• Not use the name, logos, or branding of Loyola University Chicago in any way without advance written permission
• Not interfere with the daily operations of the University or the privacy of Loyola’s students, faculty, and staff
• Obtain written permission from the University in advance of any work on Loyola’s property

News media filming/photography

Loyola University Chicago will respond to requests from media professionals seeking to film or photograph on campus for news-related, non-commercial purposes. All requests from members of the media—including print publications, broadcast outlets, or any online or social media—must be approved by Matthew McDermott, associate director of external communications at mbedugnis@luc.edu. Please refer to our media relations policy for more information.

Use of drones for filming and photography

Drone operations are prohibited within Loyola buildings and on, from, or over University owned or leased property for any purpose except for the safety and protection of people on campus and for the maintenance of facilities and property.

In exceptional circumstances that enhance Loyola's reputation, University Marketing and Communication may grant permission to fly, in consultation with Campus Safety and Facilities. All community members, including faculty, staff, students and third parties (contractors), wishing to request to fly must follow all University, city, state, and federal laws and Federal Aviation Administration protocols. All requests must be submitted a minimum of 60 days in advance.

Please include the following information:

• Drone operator's license number
• Drone’s make and model number
• Expected images to be captured and intended usage
• Desired location for takeoff and flight operation
• Desired date, time, and duration of drone flight
• Specifications and features of the drone’s camera

Third parties may also be required to sign loyola-location-agreement.pdf. Requests may be submitted to Ted Yee, senior director of University Branding, at eyee@LUC.edu and must be approved by UMC, Campus Safety, and Campus Operations.

The University has the right to immediately terminate the operation of a drone if:

• Operation interferes with campus operations
• Operation poses hazards to life or property
• Proper approvals have not been obtained, as required by federal, state, and local laws and this policy

Suspected non-compliance of this policy could result in prosecution and penalties. Adjudication will be handled by the appropriate authority:

• Office of Student Conduct & Conflict Resolution (students)
• Human Resources (staff)
• Office of the Provost (faculty)
• Campus Safety and local law enforcement (unaffiliated)

University Athletics

Any requests to film or photograph student athletes or sporting events should be directed to Ryan Haley, director of athletic communications at Jhaley2@luc.edu.

University department requests

Loyola faculty and staff are welcome to hire outside photographers and videographers to document events on campus or to produce materials reflecting the work being done at the University. Any such requests must be in compliance with University policies as outlined on this page. University Marketing and Communications can provide a list of approved freelance photographers and videographers who may be able to fulfill your needs. Please see our Hiring a Photographer or Hiring a Videographer FAQ for more information.

Consent forms

Individual Loyola University Chicago students, faculty, and staff cannot be filmed or photographed without their written consent. If you obtain permission from the University Marketing and Communication office for filming or photography on campus, you will still need to get signed consent forms from any Loyola students and employees you wish to photograph or film. A copy of our consent form can be found here.

Events on campus

Permission of the event organizer is required to film or photograph any event on campus and can be obtained through the University Marketing and Communication office. The ability to film or photograph speakers on campus will be dependent upon that individual’s speaking agreement with Loyola and will be handled on a case-by-case basis.

For events where individuals in the crowd may be captured in photos or video and it is not feasible to obtain individual consent forms, a general crowd consent notice should be posted. This notice should be made clearly visible at all entrances to the event so that attendees are aware they may be photographed or recorded. Sample language can be found here.

Personal photography

Visitors to Loyola University Chicago are welcome to take photographs on campus for their personal use. Personal photos may be taken by students, parents, faculty, staff, alumni, and other visitors provided they are used exclusively for non-commercial purposes and do not interfere with any University operations. Members of the Loyola community may also hire their own personal photographers to take personal photos on campus (such as wedding or graduation photos) provided they are not used for commercial purposes.

Additional information

For any additional questions, contact the University Marketing and Communication office at UMC@LUC.edu.